Shape refrigerated cookie dough into a triangular log and slice for fun reindeer cookies in a flash.

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I didn't spend much cooking with my mom growing up, but the reverse is true for my kids.

They're not just "Can I lick the spoon?" kids. My 8-year-old daughter's been a helper for as long as I can remember, grabbing items from the fridge and holding the mixer. Let her tell it, she's an expert egg cracker. My son turns 4 on Christmas Day and as soon as I start putting ingredients on the counter, he runs to get his step stool so he can watch and help measure ingredients. They also have their own aprons and whisks.

Having them in the kitchen has been especially helpful, as they now eat things they've tried at ...